Multi-magazine disc player

ABSTRACT

A multimagazine disc player includes an array of magazines removably stored therein each for holding a plurality of discs, and a playback device movable and positionable in alignment with one of the magazines at a time for playing back a selected one of the discs contained in the magazine. The discs stored in the magazines can selectively be played back automatically, and can also easily be replaced with other discs not stored in the disc player. The magazines are arrayed horizontally to make the disc player highly stable. The discs are stored in vertically erected positions so that the magazines can be removed and loaded with ease.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a disc player for storing a pluralityof magazines each containing a plurality of discs which can be taken outand played back one at a time.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 60-40563 discloses a discplayer for storing and selectively playing back a plurality of discs.

In the disclosed disc player, the discs are arrayed in closely spacedrelationship and cannot easily be replaced with other discs. A discstorage area has to be covered with a housing for protecting the storeddiscs, and the housing should be openable and closable as desired fordisc replacement. If some of discs which have already been stored in thedisc player are to be replaced, the user should first open the housingand then replace the discs with desired discs while confirming thelabels on those discs.

Such multidisc players find wide use in so-called "karaoke" or "musicminus one" applications wherein people can sing songs with backgroundorchestral music played back by the disc player. In a place where such adisc player is located, people wishing to be "karaoke" singers tend torequest a wide range of different favorite songs. Since the disc playerhas a limited disc storage space that cannot meet all such differentrequests, it is customary to first store frequently requested discs inthe disc storage unit, and when the orchestral music for a song which isnot found in the stored discs is requested, one of the stored discs isreplaced with a disc containing the requested music. This manualprocedure is however time-consuming and cannot change discs easily andquickly within a desirably short period of time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a magazinedisc player capable of automatically selecting a desired disc from amongmany stored discs and replacing the stored discs easily with otherdesired discs.

Another object of the present invention is to pro vide a magazine discplayer in which stored discs can accurately be fed or transferred into aplayback position.

According to a first feature of the present invention, there is provideda magazine disc player comprising a storage unit for storing an array ofmagazines each for holding a plurality of discs, playback means forplaying back the discs one at a time, positioning means for guiding andpositioning the playback means in a direction in which the magazines arearrayed, and disc moving means for moving one of the discs at a timebetween the corresponding magazine and the playback means, the magazinesbeing arrayed in a horizontal direction, and the discs being arrangedwith recording surfaces thereof lying vertically.

According to a second feature of the present invention, each of themagazines comprises a case and a plurality of flat trays movable intoand out of the case for carrying the discs in respective principalplanes thereof.

According to a third feature of the present invention, the playbackmeans comprises a turntable and a disc clamping mechanism, furtherincluding disc pressing means for cooperating with the disc clampingmechanism in gripping the disc which has been ejected from the magazineand mounting the disc on the turntable.

According to a fourth feature of the present invention, the discpressing means comprises an abutment member for abutting against thedisc, and supporting and driving means for supporting the abutmentmember and moving the abutment member in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to a disc carrying surface of the turntable.

According to a fifth feature of the present invention, the supportingand driving means comprises a movable member movable in a predetermineddirection and engaging the abutment member through cam means, and driveforce imparting means for imparting a drive force to the movable member.

According to a sixth feature of the present invention, the disc pressingmeans includes a disc guide pin for being fitted into a central holedefined in the disc, and guide pin driving means for supporting andmoving the disc guide pin in a direction substantially perpendicular tothe disc carrying surface of the turntable.

According to a seventh feature of the present invention, the discclamping mechanism comprises a presser for pressing the disc, and apresser supporting mechanism supporting the presser for rotation andmovement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the disc carryingsurface of the turntable, the presser being movable by the supportingand driving means.

According to an eighth feature of the present invention, the magazinedisc player further includes a disc guide member for guiding the disc byslidingly contacting the lower end of the disc which has been ejectedfrom the magazine, and disc guide member driving means for supportingand moving the disc guide member.

According to a ninth feature of the present invention, the presser has apin for being fitted into a central hole defined in the disc, theturntable having a centering member for being fitted in the pin.

According to a tenth feature of the present invention, there is provideda magazine disc player comprising a storage unit for storing an array ofmagazines each for holding a plurality of discs, playback means forplaying back the discs one at a time, the playback means including aturntable, positioning means for guiding and positioning the playbackmeans in a direction in which the magazines are arrayed, disc movingmeans for moving one of the discs at a time between the correspondingmagazine and the playback means, the magazines being arrayed in ahorizontal direction with the discs having recording surfaces lyingvertically, and disc gripping and mounting means for gripping the discejected from the magazine, delivering the disc in an axial direction ofthe turntable, and mounting the disc on the turntable.

According to an eleventh feature of the present invention, the discgripping and mounting means comprises a plurality of gripper members forgripping the disc, and gripper member driving means for supporting andmoving the gripper members in directions substantially parallel andperpendicular to a disc carrying surface of the turntable.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following description whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which preferredembodiments of the present invention are shown by way of illustrativeexample.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a magazine disc player according to afirst embodiment of the present invention, with a subhousing removedfrom a main housing;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are front and plan views, respectively, partly cut away,of the subhousing which contains magazines and a playback means in themagazine disc player shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV--IV of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 5(a), 5(b), and 6 are views showing magazines in detail;

FIGS. 7, 8(a), 8(b), 8(c), 9(a), and 9(b) are views showing in detailinternal structures in the subhousing shown in FIGS. 1 through 4;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a control system of the magazine discplayer shown in FIGS. 1 through 9(b);

FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b) show a flowchart of an operation sequence of themagazine disc player shown in FIGS. 1 through 9(b);

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing signals produced during operation of themagazine disc player shown in FIGS. 1 through 9(b);

FIGS. 13(a) through 13(d) are cross-sectional views showing operation ofthe magazine disc player shown in FIGS. 1 through 9(b);

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a magazine disc player according to asecond embodiment of the present invention, with a subhousing removedfrom a main housing;

FIGS. 15 and 16 are front and plan views, respectively, partly cut away,of the subhousing which contains magazines and a playback means in themagazine disc player shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVII--XVII of FIG.15;

FIGS. 18(a), 18(b), and 19 are views showing magazines in detail;

FIGS. 20 through 27 are views illustrating in detail internal structuresin the subhousing shown in FIGS. 14 through 17;

FIG. 28 is a block diagram of a control system of the magazine discplayer shown in FIGS. 14 through 27;

FIGS. 29(a) and 29(b) show a flowchart of an operation sequence of themagazine disc player shown in FIGS. 14 through 27;

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing signals produced during operation of themagazine disc player shown in FIGS. 14 through 27;

FIGS. 31(a) through 31(d) are cross-sectional views showing operation ofthe magazine disc player shown in FIGS. 14 through 27;

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a magazine disc player according to athird embodiment of the present invention, with a subhousing removedfrom a main housing;

FIGS. 33 and 34 are front and plan views, respectively, partly cut away,of the subhousing which contains magazines and a playback means in themagazine disc player shown in FIG. 32;

FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXXV--XXXV of FIG.33;

FIGS. 36(a), 36(b), and 37 are views showing magazines in detail;

FIGS. 38 through 45 are views illustrating in detail internal structuresin the subhousing shown in FIGS. 32 through 35;

FIG. 46 is a block diagram of a control system of the magazine discplayer shown in FIGS. 32 through 45;

FIG. 47 is a flowchart of an operation sequence of the magazine discplayer shown in FIGS. 32 through 45; and

FIGS. 48(a), 48(b), 49(a), 49(b), 50(a), and 50(b) are cross-sectionalviews showing operation of the magazine disc player shown in FIGS. 32through 45.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1, a magazine disc player according to a firstembodiment of the present invention includes a separable player housingassembly comprising a main housing 1 and a subhousing 2 separablyinserted in the main housing 1. The main housing 1 has a front panel lahaving a horizontal opening 1b into which the subhousing 2 can beinserted, and supporting a control assembly 3 above the opening 1b forcontrolling operation of the disc player. Front, leftward, and upwarddirections with respect to the magazine disc player are indicated by thearrows Y, X, Z, respectively. The magazine disc player is suitable foruse as a so-called "karaoke" disc player. The front panel 1a of the mainhousing 1 also has a coin slot 1c for inserting a coil therethrough toenable the magazine disc player to be operated, and a coin retrievalcase 4 for retrieving inserted coins.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4, the subhousing 2 has a front panel2a having a plurality (e.g., 10) of openings 2b for inserting discmagazines 5 therein. The horizontal array.

As shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), each of the disc magazines 5 has a case9 in the shape of a flat rectangular parallelepiped, and a total of sixtrays, i.e., three rectangular trays A 11 and three rectangular trays B12, each for carrying a disc 10 in its principal plane. The discs 10carried in the respective trays 11, 12 are stored at predeterminedpitches as a horizontal array in lateral directions (i.e., in thedirection of the arrow X and the direction opposite thereto) with therecording surfaces of the discs 10 being directed vertically. The traysA 11 and the trays B 12 are rotatably mounted on a support shaft 9asupported on a corner of the case 9 and extending across the trays alongthe array thereof, so that the trays can be stored into and projectedout of the case 9 along their principal planes.

The magazine 5 will be described in greater detail. The case 9 of themagazine 5 has seven partitions 9b with the trays A 11 and the trays B12 being disposed between these partitions 9b. As shown in FIG. 6, thepartitions 9b have respective small circular holes 9c defined coaxiallytherein near the support shaft 9a. The trays 11, 12 also have openings11a, 12a, respectively, defined therein at positions capable ofconfronting the openings 9c. Five movable spherical elements 13a aredisposed in the openings 9c, 11a, 12a, the spherical elements 13a beingmovable in directions across the partitions 9b. The spherical elements13a have a diameter equal to the pitch of the alternately positionedtrays 11, 12. The spherical elements 13a are normally urged against eachother by a pair of leaf springs 13b disposed respectively in oppositewalls of the case 9 at one end thereof.

As shown in FIG. 5(b), a presser lever 14 is disposed in an end of thecase 9 and angularly movably mounted on the case 9 by a pin 14a at oneend of the presser lever 14. The presser lever 14 has a free end whichcan smoothly engage the free ends of the trays 11, 12. The presser lever14 is normally urged by a spring 14b to turn counterclockwise in FIG.5(b) to press the trays 11, 12. The trays 11, 12 are substantiallyidentical in shape to each other, except that they have differentlyshaped and positioned steps 11b, 12b on side edges which can be engagedby a fingertip of the user when pulling the trays out of the case 9.

As shown in FIGS. 2 through 4, a movable chassis 16 is disposed in thesubhousing 2 and guided on a guide shaft 17 for horizontal movement inthe direction in which the magazines 5 are arrayed. The movable chassis16 supports thereon a playback means and a disc moving means, both ofwhich will be described later on. As also shown in FIG. 7, a boss 18 isfixedly mounted in a front lower end portion of the movable chassis 16and smoothly movably fitted over the guide shaft 17. A rail 19 isdisposed in the subhousing 2 parallel to the guide shaft 17, and aroller 20 rotatably mounted on a rear lower end portion of the movablechassis 16 is rollingly supported on the rail 19. As illustrated inFIGS. 2, 3, and 7, a wire 22 which is kept taut is disposed in thesubhousing 2 and extends in the direction in which the movable chassis16 is movable. As shown in FIG. 3, the wire 22 is attached at one end tothe subhousing 2 by a hook 22a and tensioned by a coil spring 22bconnected to the other end of the wire 22 and attached to the subhousing2 by another hook 22a. The wire 22 is trained around and bent by apulley 22c near the coil spring 22b. The wire 22 is wound around a smallpulley 23 rotatably mounted on a lower end portion of the movablechassis 16. The small pulley 23 can be rotated about its own axis by amotor 24 through a gear transmission mechanism 25 for moving the movablechassis 16 along the guide shaft 17 and the rail 19.

The guide shaft 17, the boss 18, the rail 19, the roller 20, the wire22, the hook 22a, the coil spring 22b, the pulley 22c, the small pulley23, the motor 24, and the gear transmission mechanism 25 jointly serveas a guiding and driving means for carrying the movable chassis 16movably in the direction of the array of the magazines 5 and driving themovable chassis 16.

Locking means for locking the magazines in inserted positions in thesubhousing 2, and ejecting means for unlocking the magazines will bedescribed below. These locking means and ejecting means are providedrespectively in association with the ten magazines 5.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5(b), the case 9 of each magazine 5 has a recess5a of a rectangular cross section which is defined in a side thereof. Asshown in FIGS. 4 and 7, a horizontal panel extension 2d extends from alower portion of the front panel 2a of the subhousing 2 into thesubhousing 2. A locking finger 27 having a free end engageable in therecess 5a in the case 9 for locking the magazine 5 in its insertedposition is swingably mounted on a support pin 27a supported on thehorizontal panel extension 2d. The locking finger 27 is normally urgedinto the recess 5a by a spring 27b installed as an urging means on thesupport pin 27a. An operating lever 29 for engaging the locking finger27 to release the locking finger 27 from the magazine 5 is movablydisposed on the panel extension 2d for reciprocal movement, back andforth (i.e., in the direction of the arrow Y and the direction oppositethereto). The operating lever 29 has a front end portion projecting outof the subhousing 2, and an eject button 29a is attached to theprojecting end of the operating lever 29. Between the front panel 2a andthe eject button 29a, there is disposed a coil spring 29b for biasingthe operating lever 29 to move in the forward direction (i.e., in thedirection of the arrow Y).

An ejecting plate 31 for ejecting the magazine 5 out of the subhousing 2is disposed near the locking finger 27 and the operating lever 29. Theejecting plate 31 is movably installed on the panel extension 2d of thefront panel 2a for back-and-forth movement (in the direction of thearrow Y and the direction opposite thereto). The ejecting plate 31, thelocking finger 27, and the operating lever 29 are provided in ten setswhich are associated with the respective ten magazines 5. The ejectingplate 31 has an upward projection 31a on a rear end thereof for abuttingagainst the rear end of the magazine 5. The ejecting plate 31 also has arack 31b on a righthand side thereof, and a braking gear 32a of a damper32 is held in mesh with the rack 31b. The damper 32 contains a viscousmaterial such as grease and utilizes the viscous resistance of theviscous material for applying a braking force to the ejecting plate 31.The ejecting plate 31 is normally urged in a direction to eject themagazine 5 by a coil spring 31c.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the ejecting plates 31 also have respectiverearward plate extensions 31d projecting from the respective rear endsthereof. Detector switches 33 are fixed as sensors with respect to thesubhousing 2 near the respective plate extensions 31d. When the ejectingplate 31 is moved rearwardly (i.e., in the direction opposite to thedirection of the arrow Y) upon insertion of a corresponding magazine 5,the plate extension 31d of the ejecting plate 31 engages an actuator ofthe detector switch 33. When the magazine 5 is not inserted, the plateextension 31d is not in a position detectable by the detector switch 33,but in a non-detectable position forward of the detectable position.

The ejecting plate 31, or detectable member, including the plateextension 31d and the detector switch 33 jointly constitute a magazinepresence/absence detecting means for detecting whether there is acorresponding magazine in the subhousing 2. While the sensor in themagazine presence/absence detecting means comprises the detector switch33 in the illustrated embodiment, it may be photocoupler. In theembodiment, as many detector switches 33 as there are ejecting plates 31are employed. However, a single detector switch or a photocoupler may bemounted as a sensor on the movable chassis 16 for horizontal movementwith the movable chassis 16 in the direction in which the magazines 5are arrayed, so that the plate extension 31d of each ejecting plate 31can be detected by the single detector switch or photocoupler. Ratherthan indirectly detecting a magazine 5 with the plate extension 31d ofthe corresponding ejecting plate 31, it is possible to detect themagazine 5 directly with a sensor.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, an array of ten light-emitting diodes 35is disposed as indicator elements on an upper portion of the front panel2a of the subhousing 2, the light-emitting diodes 35 being arrayed inthe direction in which the movable chassis 16 is movable, i.e., themagazines 5 are arrayed. The light-emitting diodes 35 are positionedabove the respective openings 2b in which the magazines 5 can beinserted. The light-emitting diodes 35 can selectively be energizeddependent on the position of the movable chassis 16, i.e., the playbackmeans thereon, by a controller as an indicator element driving means, asdescribed later on. The indicator elements may be ordinary electriclamps or liquid crystal displays.

As shown in FIG. 3, a detector switch 36 is disposed in a lefthand endportion of the subhousing 2 for engaging the reciprocally movablechassis 16 to detect when the movable chassis 16 is in a limit or homeposition. As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 7, an address plate 37 isdisposed in the subhousing 2, the address plate 37 having a multiplicityof slits 37a arrayed in the direction in which the movable chassis 16 ismovable, i.e., in the horizontal direction in which the magazines 5 arearrayed. The slits 37a are positioned in alignment with respectivepositions at which discs 10 are stored in the magazines 5 loaded in thesubhousing 2. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, photocouplers 38 are mounted ona lower portion of the front end of the movable chassis 16 for detectingthe slits 37a. A detected slit signal produced by the photocouplers 38is sent to the controller which includes a counter for counting thedetected slit signal. The controller detects a position where themovable chassis 16 is stopped based on the count obtained by thecounter.

The detector switch 36, the address plate 37, and the photocouplers 38jointly constitute a playback means position detecting means fordetecting when the movable chassis 16 supporting the playback means hasreached a position aligned with a selected disc 10 and for stopping themovable chassis 16. The guiding and driving means for moving the movablechassis 16 as described above and the playback means position detectingmeans jointly serve as a positioning means for positioning the playbackmeans in the direction in which the magazines 5 are arrayed.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 7, an ejector member 41 is mounted on alower portion of the front end of the movable chassis 16 for engagingone at a time of the trays 11, 12 in a magazine 5 and ejecting theengaged tray out of the case 9 of the magazine 5. The ejector member 41is in the shape of an L and has two arcuate guide grooves 41a, 41bdefined therein and having different radii of curvature. The ejectormember 41 is guided in its movement by a pair of pins 16a projecting onthe movable chassis 16 and slidably engaging the respective guidegrooves 41a, 41b. The ejector member 41 is angularly movable about thecenter of curvatures of the arcuate guide grooves 41a, 41b for causingfingers on the opposite ends of the ejector member 41 to eject and storethe tray 11 or 12 out of and into the case 9. The center of rotation ofthe ejector member 41 (i.e., the center of curvature of the arcuateguide grooves 41a, 41b) is aligned with the central axis about which thetrays 11, 12 are rotatable (i.e., the support shaft 9a shown in FIGS.5(a) and 5(b)). The trays 11, 12 are pushed by the ejector member 41 attheir portions near the support shaft 9a.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, an elongate movable member 43 is disposed inthe vicinity of the ejector member 41 and mounted on the movable chassis16 for reciprocable movement in the back and forth or forward andrearward directions (i.e., in the direction of the arrow Y and thedirection opposite thereto). The movable member 43 has a vertical slot43a defined in the front end thereof, and a pin 41c mounted on theejector member 41 slidably rides in the vertical slot 43a. The movablemember 43 also has a rack 43b on its lower edge. The movable member 43can reciprocally be moved by a motor 48 through a gear transmissionmechanism 44 including a pinion 44a meshing with the rack 43b, a largepulley 45 coupled to a first gear of the gear transmission mechanism 44,and a belt 46 trained around the large pulley 45 and a small pulley 47mounted on the output shaft of the motor 48. The movable member 43 isthus movable back and forth by rotating the motor 48 in one directionand the other. As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 7, a tray guide member 50 ismounted in the movable chassis 16 for guiding one of the trays 11, 12 insliding contact with the tray which is ejected out of or stored into thecase 9 of a magazine 5.

The ejector member 41, the movable member 43, the gear transmissionmechanism 44, the large pulley 45, the belt 46, the small pulley 47, andthe motor 48 jointly serve as a disc moving means for moving a disc 10between the magazine 5 and the playback means.

The playback means supported in the movable chassis 16 for playing backa disc ejected from one of the magazines 5 includes a turntable, anoptical pickup, and a disc clamping mechanism, and is movable in thehorizontal direction in which the magazines 5 are arrayed. As shown inFIG. 2, the movable chassis 16 has three upstanding panels 16c, 16d, 16ejuxtaposed in the horizontal direction. To the righthand upstandingpanel 16c, there is attached a spindle motor 53 for directly rotating aturntable 52 (see FIG. 3). There are also mounted on the upstandingpanel 16c an optical pickup (not shown) for reading recorded informationfrom the disc 10, and a pickup driving means (not shown) for moving theoptical pickup along the recording surface of the disc 10.

A disc clamping mechanism is mounted on the central and lefthandupstanding panels 16d, 16e. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4 and 7through 8(b), the disc clamping mechanism has a disc-shaped presser 55for pressing the disc 10 ejected from the magazine 5 against the disccarrying surface of the turntable 52 (see FIG. 3), clamping plates 56,57 with the presser 55 being rotatably supported at its front and rearsurfaces by the clamping plates 56, 57, and an arcuate clamping cammember 58 held in sliding contact with the clamping plates 56, 57 fordriving the clamping plates 56, 57. The clamping plate 56 is swingablyattached to the upstanding panel 16e by a support shaft 56a. Theclamping plate 57 is swingably attached to the upstanding panel 16d by asupport shaft 57a. The clamping plates 56, 57 have projections 56b, 57bon free ends thereof which are slidably held against the outer peripheryof the presser 55. The clamping plates 56, 57 are swingable inrespective planes normal to the disc carrying surface of the turntable52.

The clamping cam member 58 has three slots 58a defined therein and eachextending along the arcuate shape of the clamping cam 58. The clampingcam member 58 is angularly movable about the center of curvature thereofwhile being guided by three support pins 60 mounted on the upstandingpanel 16d and slidably engaging in the respective slots 58a. Theclamping cam member 58 has cams 58b disposed one on each side of theslots 58a, and projections 56d, 57d on the clamping plates 56, 57 areheld in smooth sliding contact with cam surfaces 58c of the cams 58b.The clamping plates 56, 57 are normally urged against the clamping cammember 58 by an urging means (not shown) comprising a spring. As shownin FIGS. 7 and 8(c), the cam surface 58c of each of the cams 58b of theclamping cam member 58 is composed of three continuous surfacesincluding an intermediate surface, a lower surface, and a higher surfacewhich are arranged in the order named.

The clamping plates 56, 57 are referred to as a presser supportmechanism. The disc-shaped presser 55 is supported by the pressersupport mechanism for rotation and movement in a direction normal to thedisc carrying surface of the turntable 52 (FIG. 3). The presser supportmechanism, the presser 55, and the clamping cam member 58 jointlyconstitute a disc clamping mechanism.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 7, 8(a) through 8(c), another plate 63 is swingablymounted by a support shaft 63a on the central upstanding panel 16d onwhich the clamping plate 57 is supported. The plate 63 is swingable in aplane normal to the disc carrying surface of the turntable 52 (FIG. 3),as with the clamping plates 56, 57. A disc guide pin 64 is rotatablymounted on a free end of the plate 63 for fitting in the central hole ofthe disc 10. The plate 63 and the disc guide pin 64 are part of a discpressing means (described later on).

As shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(c), the plate 63 has a projection 63dslidingly held against the cam surfaces 58c of the cams 58b of theclamping cam member 58. Although not shown, an urging means (not shown)comprising a spring normally urges the plate 63 against the clamping cammember 58.

A disc 10 ejected with its tray 11 or 12 out of the correspondingmagazine 5 is delivered horizontally in perpendicular relation to thedisc carrying surface of the turntable 52 by the disc clampingmechanism, and then mounted on the disc carrying surface. The disc guidepin 64 and the plate 63 are effective in preventing the disc 10 frombeing radially displaced due to gravity while the disc 10 is beingdelivered, so that the disc 10 can reliably be mounted and clamped onthe turntable 52.

A disc pressing means for mounting the disc 10 on the turntable 52 incooperation with the disc clamping mechanism is installed on therighthand upstanding panel 16c disposed parallel to the other upstandingpanels 16d, 16e on which the disc clamping mechanism is held. The discpressing means will hereinafter be described.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 7, 9(a), and 9(b), the disc pressing means has anarcuate rotary member 67 similar in shape to the clamping cam member 58,and a substantially arcuate plate-like abutment member 68 drivable bythe rotary member 67 to abut against the disc 10 ejected from themagazine 5.

The rotary member 67 has two arcuate slots 67a defined therein andextending along the arcuate shape of the rotary member 67. The rotarymember 67 is angularly movable about the center of curvature thereofwhile being guided by two support pins 70 mounted on the upstandingpanel 16c and slidingly engaging in the slots 67a. The abutment member68 is positioned concentrically with the rotary member 67 and held insliding engagement with the support pins 70 for reciprocating movementonly in the direction in which the support pins 70 project. The supportpins 70 extend perpendicularly to the disc carrying surface of theturntable 52, so that the abutment member 68 is movable perpendicularlyto the disc carrying surface of the turntable 52. The abutment member 68has three substantially equidistantly spaced cams 68b having respectivecam surfaces 68c against which respective cam projections 67c of therotary member 67 are smoothly slidably held.

The abutment member 68 has three slots 68d defined therein andsurrounded respectively by the cams 68b. Pins 71 inserted throughrespective holes defined in the projections 67c of the rotary member 67slidably engage in the respective slots 68d. As shown in FIG. 9(b), anurging means comprising a coil spring 72 is disposed between the head ofeach pin 71 and the rotary member 67 for normally urging the abutmentmember 68 toward the rotary member 67. As shown in FIGS. 2, 7, and 9(b),each of the cam surfaces 68c of the cams 68b is composed of threecontinuous surfaces, i.e., a lower surface, an intermediate surface, anda higher surface.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, pads 68e made of felt or the like are attachedto the surface of the abutment member 68 which will contact the disc 10.Likewise, a pad 50a made of felt or the like is attached to the surfaceof the tray guide member 50 for contact with the disc 10 and the trays11, 12.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 7, and 9(a), the movable member 43 for turning theejector member 41 to eject the trays 11, 12 from the magazines 5 alsohas a rack 43c on its upper edge which is held in mesh with a pinion 75positioned near the rotary member 67. The pinion 75 is held in mesh witha gear 76a of a gear cam 76 having a radial extension 76b with a slot76c defined therein and slidably receiving therein one of the pins 71 onthe rotary member 67. When the movable member 43 is reciprocally movedby the motor 48, the rotary member 67 is rotated to move the abutmentmember 68 in the horizontal directions (i.e., in the direction of thearrow X and the direction opposite thereto).

The motor 48, the gear cam 76, and a series of operatively coupledmembers therebetween jointly serve as a drive force imparting means forimparting a drive force to the rotary member 67. The rotary member 67,the drive force imparting means, and small parts associated therewithjointly constitute a supporting and driving means for supporting theabutment member 68 and moving the abutment member 68 in a directionnormal to the disc carrying surface of the turntable 52 (FIG. 3). Thesupporting and driving means, the abutment member 68, the plate 63, andthe disc guide pin 64 jointly provide a disc pressing means forcooperating with the disc clamping mechanism (described above) ingripping a disc 10 ejected from a magazine 5 and mounting the disc 10 onthe turntable 52.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 7, and 8(b), the arcuate clamping cam member 58includes a radially outward extension 58e on its outer periphery with ahorizontal shaft 58f mounted thereon. The arcuate rotary member 67 alsohas a radially outward extension 67e on its outer periphery which has aU-shaped recess 67f with the shaft 58f smoothly engaging therein.Therefore, the rotary member 67 is angularly moved by the supporting anddriving means to move the abutment member 68. Both the presser 55 andthe abutment member 68 can thus be driven by the single drive source,i.e., the motor 48. As a result, the number of drive sources required inthe disc player is reduced.

Operation of the magazine disc player of the above structure will bedescribed below further with reference to FIGS. 10 through 13(d).

First, the control assembly 3 shown in FIGS. 1 and 10 is operated tospecify a disc 10 to be played back. The controller or CPU shown in FIG.10 applies a drive voltage to the motor 24 to move the movable chassis16 with the playback means thereon in a leftward direction (forward) ora rightward direction (rearward) until the ejector member 41 reaches aposition to engage the tray 11 or 12 carrying the disc 10 to be playedback.

The movable chassis 16 and hence the playback means are moved andpositioned as follows:

A DCNT signal shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is a detected slit signalgenerated by the photocouplers 38, and a DCHM signal is a detectedsignal generated by the detector switch 36 when the movable chassis 16is in its limit position or home position. As shown in FIG. 11, if thereis a movement command while the photocouplers 38 are generating a DCNTsignal, the movable chassis 16 is moved a distance corresponding to thedifference between a present address (present DISC) and a desiredaddress (search DISC). If there is a movement command when no DCNTsignal is generated by the photocouplers 38, the movable chassis 16 ismoved in the forward direction (leftward: the direction of the arrow X)until a DCHM signal is generated by the detector switch 36, andthereafter the movable chassis 16 is moved to the position of a desiredaddress (search DISC).

When the ejector member 41 reaches a position to engage the traycarrying the disc 10 to be played back, the motor 48 is energized tocause the movable member 43 to turn the ejector member 41. The tray(e.g., tray B 12) carrying the disc 10 to be played back is ejected fromthe case 9 of the magazine 5, and the disc 10 is moved into a positionconcentric with the disc carrying surface of the turntable 52, i.e.,into a position directly laterally of the disc carrying surface, asshown in FIG. 13(a).

At the same time that the disc 10 is ejected by the movable member 43,the clamping cam member 58 and the rotary member 67 are rotated by themovable member 43. As illustrated in FIG. 13(b), the abutment member 68is moved toward the presser 55 of the disc clamping mechanism by thecams 68b to grip the disc 10 between the presser 55 and the abutmentmember 68. Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 13(c) and 13(d), the disc 10 ismounted on the turntable 52, while being gripped between the presser 55and the abutment member 68, by the cams 68b (FIGS. 9a and 9b) abutmentmember 68 and the cams 58b (FIGS. 8a, b and c). of the clamping cammember 58. Then, the abutment member 68 is moved away from the disc 10,which is clamped by the presser 55. When the disc 10 ejected from themagazine 5 is delivered horizontally, the disc guide pin 64 is fitted inthe central hole of the disc 10, as shown in FIGS. 13(b) and 13(c), toprevent the disc 10 from being positionally displaced. The disc 10installed on the turntable 52 is thus highly accurately centered withrespect to the center of rotation of the turntable 52 in engagement witha centering member 52b of the turntable 52.

The disc 10 can now be played back. The turntable 52 and the opticalpickup (not shown) are then operated to start playing back the disc 10.

After the disc 10 has been played back, the disc 10 is stored back intothe magazine 5 in a process which is the reversal of the above discloading process. The above operation is repeated as many times as thenumber of musics specified to be played back.

In the disc loading process, the CPU detects whether there are magazinesbased on the detected signal from the detector switch 33. If a magazinecontaining a desired disc is not loaded in the subhousing 2, then such anon-loading condition is indicated by an indicator (not shown), and theCPU does not search for such a disc, but searches for a next specifieddisc. When the movable chassis 16 reaches a position aligned with themagazine containing a desired disc to be played back, the CPU energizesonly the light-emitting diode 35 which is positioned in alignment withthe magazine containing the desired disc. Each of the light-emittingdiodes 35 may be of such a structure as to be able to selectively emitlights of two different colors, and may be controlled such that all thelight-emitting diodes 35 are first energized to emit light of one color,and only the light-emitting diode which is approached by the movablechassis 16 may be energized to emit light of a different color.Alternatively, the light-emitting diodes 35 may successively beenergized as the movable chassis 16 is progressively moved, and thoselight-emitting diodes 35 past which the movable chassis 16 has moved maybe de-energized.

A magazine 5 can be ejected out of the subhousing 2 and hence the discplayer by pushing the eject button 29a located below the magazine 5 asshown in FIG. 1.

A magazine disc player according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 14, a magazine disc player according to the firstembodiment includes a separable player housing assembly comprising amain housing 101 and a subhousing 102 separably inserted in the mainhousing 101. The main housing 101 has a front panel 101a having ahorizontal opening 101b into which the subhousing 102 can be inserted,and supporting a control assembly 103 above the opening 101b forcontrolling operation of the disc player. Front, leftward, and upwarddirections with respect to the magazine disc player are indicated by thearrows Y, X, Z, respectively. The magazine disc player is suitable foruse as a so-called "karaoke" disc player. The front panel 101a of themain housing 101 also has a coin slot 101c for inserting a coiltherethrough to enable the magazine disc player to be operated, and acoin retrieval case 104 for retrieving inserted coins.

As illustrated in FIGS. 15 through 17, the subhousing 102 has a frontpanel 102a having a plurality (e.g., 10) of openings 102b for insertingdisc magazines 105 therein. The openings 102b extend vertically and aredefined as a horizontal array.

As shown in FIGS. 18(a) and 5(b), each of the disc magazines 105 has acase 109 in the shape of a flat rectangular parallelepiped, and a totalof six trays, i.e., three rectangular trays A 111 and three rectangulartrays B 112, each for carrying a disc 110 in its principal plane. Thediscs 110 carried in the respective trays 111, 112 are stored atpredetermined pitches as a horizontal array in lateral directions (i.e.,in the direction of the arrow X and the direction opposite thereto) withthe recording surfaces of the discs 110 being directed vertically. Thetrays A 111 and the trays B 112 are rotatably mounted on a support shaft109a supported on a corner of the case 109 and extending across thetrays along the array thereof, so that the trays can be stored into andprojected out of the case 109 along their principal planes.

The magazine 105 will be described in greater detail. The case 109 ofthe magazine 105 has seven partitions 109b with the trays A 111 and thetrays B 112 being disposed between these partitions 109b. As shown inFIG. 19, the partitions 109b have respective small circular holes 109cdefined coaxially therein near the support shaft 109a. The trays 111,112 also have openings 111a, 112a, respectively, defined therein atpositions capable of confronting the openings 109c. Five movablespherical elements 113a are disposed in the openings 109c, 111a, 112a,the spherical elements 113a being movable in directions across thepartitions 109b. The spherical elements 113a have a diameter equal tothe pitch of the alternately positioned trays 111, 112. The sphericalelements 113a are normally urged against each other by a pair of leafsprings 113b disposed respectively in opposite walls of the case 109 atone end thereof.

As shown in FIG. 18(b), a presser lever 114 is disposed in an end of thecase 109 and angularly movably mounted on the case 109 by a pin 114a atone end of the presser lever 114. The presser lever 114 has a free endwhich can smoothly engage the free ends of the trays 111, 112. Thepresser lever 114 is normally urged by a spring 114b to turncounterclockwise in FIG. 18(b) to press the trays 111, 112. The trays111, 112 are substantially identical in shape to each other, except thatthey have differently shaped and positioned steps 111b, 112b on sideedges which can be engaged by a fingertip of the user when pulling thetrays out of the case 109.

As shown in FIGS. 15 through 17, a movable chassis 116 is disposed inthe subhousing 102 and guided on a guide shaft 117 for horizontalmovement in the direction in which the magazines 105 are arrayed. Themovable chassis 116 supports thereon a playback means and a disc movingmeans, both of which will be described later on. As also shown in FIG.20, a boss 118 is fixedly mounted in a front lower end portion of themovable chassis 116 and smoothly movably fitted over the guide shaft117. A rail 119 is disposed in the subhousing 102 parallel to the guideshaft 117, and a roller 120 rotatably mounted on a rear lower endportion of the movable chassis 116 is rollingly supported on the rail119. As illustrated in FIGS. 15, 16, and 20, a wire 122 which is kepttaut is disposed in the subhousing 102 and extends in the direction inwhich the movable chassis 116 is movable. As shown in FIG. 16, the wire122 is attached at one end to the subhousing 102 by a hook 122a andtensioned by a coil spring 122b connected to the other end of the wire122 and attached to the subhousing 102 by another hook 122a. The wire122 is trained around and bent by a pulley 122c near the coil spring122b. The wire 122 is wound around a small pulley 123 rotatably mountedon a lower end portion of the movable chassis 116. The small pulley 123can be rotated about its own axis by a motor 124 through a geartransmission mechanism 125 for moving the movable chassis 116 along theguide shaft 117 and the rail 119.

The guide shaft 117, the boss 118, the rail 119, the roller 120, thewire 122, the hook 122a, the coil spring 122b, the pulley 122c, thesmall pulley 123, the motor 124, and the gear transmission mechanism 125jointly serve as a guiding and driving means for carrying the movablechassis 116 movably in the direction of the array of the magazines 105and driving the movable chassis 116.

Locking means for locking the magazines in inserted positions in thesubhousing 102, and ejecting means for unlocking the magazines will bedescribed below. These locking means and ejecting means are providedrespectively in association with the ten magazines 105.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18(b), the case 109 of each magazine 105 has arecess 105a of a rectangular cross section which is defined in a sidethereof. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 20, a horizontal panel extension 102dextends from a lower portion of the front panel 102a of the subhousing102 into the subhousing 102. A locking finger 127 having a free endengageable in the recess 105a in the case 109 for locking the magazine105 in its inserted position is swingably mounted on a support pin 127asupported on the horizontal panel extension 102d. The locking finger 127is normally urged into the recess 105a by a spring 127b installed as anurging means on the support pin 127a. The locking finger 127 is alsoshown in FIG. 15.

As shown in FIGS. 15 through 17, a movable case 128 is disposed in thesubhousing 102 below the locking finger 127, and guided by a guide shaft129a for movement in the horizontal direction in which the magazines 105are arrayed. A solenoid plunger 130 serving as a single releasing meansis mounted on the movable case 128 for causing a rod 130a to engage thefree end of the locking finger 127 and disengaging the locking finger127 from the magazine 105. A boss 128a is fixedly mounted in a front endportion of the movable case 128, and is smoothly movably fitted over theguide shaft 129a. A pulley 128b mounted on the rear end of the movablecase 128 is rotatable by a motor (not shown) disposed in the movablecase 128. A wire 129b is kept taut and extends in the subhousing 102 inthe direction in which the movable case 128 is movable. As shown in FIG.15, the wire 129b has opposite ends secured to the subhousing 102 bymeans of respective hooks 129c. The wire 129b is tensioned by a coilspring 129d coupled to one end thereof, and is trained around and bentby a pulley 129e near the coil spring 129d. The wire 129b is woundaround a pulley 128b on the movable case 128. When the motor in themovable case 128 is energized, therefore, the movable case 128 and hencethe solenoid plunger 130 are moved along the guide shaft 129a.

An address plate 129h is disposed forwardly of the movable case 128. Theaddress plate 129h has an array of ten slits 129g defined therein andarranged in the direction in which the movable case 128 is movable, theslits 129g being aligned respectively with the locking fingers 127. Aphotocoupler 128d is attached to the front end of the movable case 128for detecting each of the slits 129h of the address plate 129h. Adetected slit signal produced by the photocoupler 128d is sent to acontroller including a counter for counting the detected slit signal.The controller detects the position of the movable case 128, i.e., thesolenoid plunger 130 based on the count from the counter. As shown inFIG. 16, a detector switch 128e is disposed in a lefthand end portion ofthe subhousing 102 for engaging the reciprocally movable case 128 todetect when the movable case 128 is in a limit or home position.

The motor (not shown) in the movable case 128, the pulley 128b, the wire129b, the hooks 129c, the coil spring 129d, the pulley 129e, the addressplate 129h, the photocoupler 128d, and the detector switch 128e jointlyconstitute a releasing means positioning means for positioning thereleasing means, i.e., the solenoid plunger 130 which releases a desiredmagazine 105.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 20, an ejecting plate 131 is disposed in thevicinity of each of the locking finger 127 for ejecting the magazine 105out of the subhousing 102. The ejecting plate 131 is movable forwardlyand rearwardly (i.e., in the direction of the arrow Y and the directionopposite thereto) on an panel extension 102d (FIG. 17) of the frontpanel 102a. The ejecting plate 131 and the locking finger 127 areprovided in ten sets which are associated with the respective tenmagazines 105. The ejecting plate 131 has an upward projection 131a on arear end thereof for abutting against the rear end of the magazine 105.The ejecting plate 131 also has a rack 131b on a righthand side thereof,and a braking gear 132a of a damper 132 is held in mesh with the rack131b. The damper 132 contains a viscous material such as grease andutilizes the viscous resistance of the viscous material for applying abraking force to the ejecting plate 131. The ejecting plate 131 isnormally urged in a direction to eject the magazine 105 by a coil spring131c.

As shown in FIG. 17, an indicator element in the form of alight-emitting diode 135a is mounted on an upper front end of themovable chassis 116 by a column-shaped elongate intermediate member 134,and a lens 135b for converging light emitted from the light-emittingdiode 135a is attached to the intermediate member 134 in coveringrelation to the light-emitting diode 135a. As also illustrated in FIGS.14 through 16, the front panel 102a of the subhousing 102 has a narrowopening 102e defined therein in the direction in which the movablechassis 116 is movable, i.e., in the direction in which the magazines105 are arrayed. The light-emitting diode 135a faces the opening 102e sothat light emitted from the light-emitting diode 135a can be visuallychecked through the opening 102e. The opening 102e is closed by alight-transmissive member 102f to prevent dust or other foreign matterfrom entering the subhousing 102 through the opening 102e. The indicatorelement may be an ordinary electric lamp or a liquid crystal display.

As shown in FIGS. 15, 17, and 20, an ejector member 141 is mounted on alower portion of the front end of the movable chassis 116 for engagingone at a time of the trays 111, 112 in a magazine 105 and ejecting theengaged tray out of the case 109 of the magazine 105. The ejector member141 is in the shape of an L and has two arcuate guide grooves 141a, 141bdefined therein and having different radii of curvature. The ejectormember 141 is guided in its movement by a pair of pins 116a projectingon the movable chassis 116 and slidably engaging the respective guidegrooves 141a, 141b. The ejector member 141 is angularly movable aboutthe center of curvatures of the arcuate guide grooves 141a, 141b forcausing fingers on the opposite ends of the ejector member 141 to ejectand store the tray 111 or 112 out of and into the case 109. The centerof rotation of the ejector member 141 (i.e., the center of curvature ofthe arcuate guide grooves 141a, 141b ) is aligned with the central axisabout which the trays 111, 112 are rotatable (i.e., the support shaft109a shown in FIGS. 18(a) and 18(b)). The trays 111, 112 are pushed bythe ejector member 141 at their portions near the support shaft 109a.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 20, an elongate movable member 143 is disposedin the vicinity of the ejector member 141 and mounted on the movablechassis 116 for reciprocable movement in the back and forth or forwardand rearward directions (i.e., in the direction of the arrow Y and thedirection opposite thereto). The movable member 143 has a vertical slot143a defined in the front end thereof, and a pin 141c mounted on theejector member 141 slidably rides in the vertical slot 143a. The movablemember 143 also has a rack 143b on its lower edge. The movable member143 can reciprocally be moved by a motor 148 through a gear transmissionmechanism 144 including a pinion 144a meshing with the rack 143b, alarge pulley 145 coupled to a first gear of the gear transmissionmechanism 144, and a belt 146 trained around the large pulley 145 and asmall pulley 147 mounted on the output shaft of the motor 148. Themovable member 143 is thus movable back and forth by rotating the motor148 in one direction and the other. As shown in FIGS. 15, 17, and 20, atray guide member 150 is mounted in the movable chassis 116 for guidingone of the trays 111, 112 in sliding contact with the tray which isejected out of or stored into the case 109 of a magazine 105.

The ejector member 141, the movable member 143, the gear transmissionmechanism 144, the large pulley 145, the belt 146, the small pulley 147,and the motor 148 jointly serve as a disc moving means for moving a disc110 between the magazine 105 and the playback means.

The playback means supported in the movable chassis 116 for playing backa disc ejected from one of the magazines 105 includes a turntable, anoptical pickup, and a disc clamping mechanism, and is movable in thehorizontal direction in which the magazines 105 are arrayed. As shown inFIG. 15, the movable chassis 116 has three upstanding panels 116c, 116d,116e juxtaposed in the horizontal direction. To the righthand upstandingpanel 116c, there is attached a spindle motor 153 for directly rotatinga turntable 152 (see FIG. 16). There are also mounted on the upstandingpanel 116c an optical pickup (not shown) for reading recordedinformation from the disc 110, and a pickup driving means (not shown)for moving the optical pickup along the recording surface of the disc110.

A disc clamping mechanism is mounted on the central and lefthandupstanding panels 116d, 116e. As illustrated in FIGS. 15 through 17 and20 through 21(b), the disc clamping mechanism has a disc-shaped presser155 for pressing the disc 110 ejected from the magazine 105 against thedisc carrying surface of the turntable 152 (see FIG. 16), clampingplates 156, 157 with the presser 155 being rotatably supported at itsfront and rear surfaces by the clamping plates 156, 157, and an arcuateclamping cam member 158 held in sliding contact with the clamping plates156, 157 for driving the clamping plates 156, 157. The clamping plate156 is swingably attached to the upstanding panel 116e by a supportshaft 156a. The clamping plate 157 is swingably attached to theupstanding panel 116d by a support shaft 157a. The clamping plates 156,157 have projections 156b, 157b on free ends thereof which are slidablyheld against the outer periphery of the presser 155. The clamping plates156, 157 are swingable in respective planes normal to the disc carryingsurface of the turntable 152.

The clamping cam member 158 has three slots 158a defined therein andeach extending along the arcuate shape of the clamping cam 158. Theclamping cam member 158 is angularly movable about the center ofcurvature thereof while being guided by three support pins 160 mountedon the upstanding panel 116d and slidably engaging in the respectiveslots 158a. The clamping cam member 158 has cams 158b, 158c disposed oneon each side of two of the slots 158a, and projections 156d, 157d on theclamping plates 156, 157 are held in smooth sliding contact with camsurfaces of the cams 158b, 158c. The clamping plates 156, 157 arenormally urged against the clamping cam member 158 by an urging means(not shown) comprising a spring. As shown in FIG. 20, the cam surface ofthe cam 158b of the clamping cam member 158 is composed of threecontinuous surfaces including an intermediate surface, a lower surface,and a higher surface which are arranged in the order named, and the camsurface of the cam 158c is composed of three continuous surfacesincluding a higher surface, a lower surface, and an intermediate surfacewhich are arranged in the order named.

The clamping plates 156, 157 are referred to as a presser supportmechanism. The disc-shaped presser 155 is supported by the pressersupport mechanism for rotation and movement in a direction normal to thedisc carrying surface of the turntable 152 (FIG. 16). The pressersupport mechanism, the presser 155, and the clamping cam member 158jointly constitute a disc clamping mechanism.

A disc pressing means for mounting the disc 110 on the turntable 152 incooperation with the disc clamping mechanism is installed on therighthand upstanding panel 116c disposed parallel to the otherupstanding panels 116d, 116e on which the disc clamping mechanism isheld. The disc pressing means will hereinafter be described.

As shown in FIGS. 15, 20, 22(a), and 22(b), the disc pressing means hasan arcuate rotary member 167 similar in shape to the clamping cam member158, and a substantially arcuate plate-like abutment member 168 drivableby the rotary member 167 to abut against the disc 110 ejected from themagazine 105.

The rotary member 167 has two arcuate slots 167a defined therein andextending along the arcuate shape of the rotary member 167. The rotarymember 167 is angularly movable about the center of curvature thereofwhile being guided by two support pins 170 mounted on the upstandingpanel 116c and slidingly engaging in the slots 167a. The abutment member168 is positioned concentrically with the rotary member 167 and held insliding engagement with the support pins 170 for reciprocating movementonly in the direction in which the support pins 170 project. The supportpins 170 extend perpendicularly to the disc carrying surface of theturntable 152, so that the abutment member 168 is movableperpendicularly to the disc carrying surface of the turntable 152. Theabutment member 168 has three substantially equidistantly spaced cams168b having respective cam surfaces 168c against which respectiveprojections 167c of the rotary member 167 are smoothly slidably held.

The abutment member 168 has three slots 168d defined therein andsurrounded respectively by the cams 168b. Pins 171 inserted throughrespective holes defined in the projections 167c of the rotary member167 slidably engage in the respective slots 168d. As shown in FIG.22(b), an urging means comprising a coil spring 172 is disposed betweenthe head of each pin 171 and the rotary member 167 for normally urgingthe abutment member 168 toward the rotary member 167. As shown in FIGS.15, 20, and 22(b), each of the cam surfaces 68c of the cams 168b iscomposed of three continuous surfaces, i.e., a lower surface, anintermediate surface, and a higher surface.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, pads 168e made of felt or the like areattached to the surface of the abutment member 168 which will contactthe disc 110. Likewise, a pad 150a made of felt or the like is attachedto the surface of the tray guide member 150 for contact with the disc110 and the trays 111, 112.

As shown in FIGS. 15, 20, and 22(a), the movable member 143 for turningthe ejector member 141 to eject the trays 111, 112 from the magazines105 also has a rack 143c on its upper edge which is held in mesh with apinion 175 positioned near the rotary member 167. The pinion 175 is heldin mesh with a gear 176a of a gear cam 176 having a radial extension176b with a slot 176c defined therein and slidably receiving therein oneof the pins 171 on the rotary member 167. When the movable member 143 isreciprocally moved by the motor 148, the rotary member 167 is rotated tomove the abutment member 168 in the horizontal directions (i.e., in thedirection of the arrow X and the direction opposite thereto).

The motor 148, the gear cam 176, and a series of operatively coupledmembers therebetween jointly serve as a drive force imparting means forimparting a drive force to the rotary member 167. The rotary member 167,the drive force imparting means, and small parts associated therewithjointly constitute a supporting and driving means for supporting theabutment member 168 and moving the abutment member 168 in a directionnormal to the disc carrying surface of the turntable 152 (FIG. 16). Thesupporting and driving means and the abutment member 168 jointly providea disc pressing means for cooperating with the disc clamping mechanism(described above) in gripping a disc 110 ejected from a magazine 105 andmounting the disc 110 on the turntable 152.

As shown in FIGS. 15, 17, 20, and 21(b), the arcuate clamping cam member158 includes a radially outward extension 158e on its outer peripherywith a horizontal shaft 158f mounted thereon. The arcuate rotary member167 also has a radially outward extension 167e on its outer peripherywhich has a U-shaped recess 167f with the shaft 158f smoothly engagingtherein. Therefore, the rotary member 167 is angularly moved by thesupporting and driving means to move the presser 155. Both the presser155 and the abutment member 168 can thus be driven by the single drivesource, i.e., the motor 148. As a result, the number of drive sourcesrequired in the disc player is reduced.

As shown in FIGS. 23(a) and 23(b), a disc guide member 181 is verticallymovably mounted on the rear surface of the central upstanding panel 116d(FIG. 15). The disc guide member 181 has a guide surface 181a forslidingly contacting the lower end of the disc 110 ejected from themagazine 105 and guiding the disc 110 to a position in which it can bemounted on the turntable 152 (FIG. 16). A pin 181b is mounted in thedisc guide member 181 and smoothly engages in a cam groove 176e definedin the gear cam 176. The disc 110 ejected with the tray 111 or 112 outof the magazine 105 is gripped by the disc clamping mechanism and thedisc pressing means, and delivered a horizontal direction normal to thedisc carrying surface of the turntable 152 as the gear cam 176 rotates,so as to be mounted on the disc carrying surface. When the disc 110 isthus delivered, the disc guide member 181 is brought into and out ofengagement with the lower end of the disc 110 by the cam groove 176e.The cam groove 176e of the gear cam 176 is shaped such that it holds thedisc guide member 181 in contact with the disc 110 while the disc 110 isbeing delivered, and it moves the disc guide member 181 away from thedisc 110 after the disc 110 has been mounted on the turntable 152.

A guiding means including the upstanding panel 116d and supporting thedisc guide member 181 for guiding the disc guide member 181 vertically(i.e., in the direction of the arrow Z and the direction oppositethereto), and the drive force imparting means including the motor 148,the gear cam 176, and a series of members therebetween for imparting adrive force to the disc guide member 181, jointly constitute a discguide member driving means for supporting and moving the disc guidemember 181. The disc guide member driving means thus provided iseffective to prevent the disc 110 which is being delivered from beingpositionally displaced radially due to gravity, and allows the disc 110to be mounted and clamped reliably and highly accurately on theturntable 152.

As shown in FIGS. 15 through 17, 20, 21(a), and 21(b), the presser 155for clamping the disc 110 has a pin 155a for being fitted into thecentral hole of the disc 110. The turntable 152 has a centeringprojection for being fitted into a recess 155b defined centrally in thepin 155a. The pin 155a is also effective in preventing the disc 110which is being delivered from being positionally displaced.

As shown in FIGS. 17, 20, and 24, a rearwardly extending plate-likedetectable member 183 is integrally formed with the rear end of each ofthe ejecting plates 131 which eject the respective magazines 105 out ofthe subhousing 102. As illustrated in FIG. 24, each of the detectablemembers 183 has light-shielding portions 183a, 183b on its distal end.As also shown in FIG. 25, three photocouplers 184a, 184b, 184c assensors are positioned in association with the light-shielding portions183a, 183b, and mounted on the movable chassis 116 for movementtherewith. Since the detectable members 183 are fixedly supported on theejecting plates 131, when the magazines 105 are not inserted in thesubhousing 102, the detectable members 183 are not in a positiondetectable by the photocouplers 184a through 184c, but are in anon-detectable position forward of the detectable position.

As shown in FIG. 24, the light-shielding portions 183a, 183b of thedetectable members 183 are arrayed in the direction in which the movablechassis 116 is movable, i.e., in the horizontal direction in which themagazines 105 are arrayed, and are aligned with positions for storingdiscs 110 in the loaded magazines 105. The light-shielding members 183a,183b serve to provide a disc position indicator for indicating, in threebits, the position of each disc in the loaded magazines 105, and thephotocouplers 184a through 184c serve as a disc position indicatordetecting means for detecting the light-shielding members 183a, 183b.The disc position indicator and the disc position indicator detectingmeans are however not limited to the illustrated arrangements, but maybe of any of various structures. The disc position indicator shouldpreferably be of an optical pattern.

As shown in FIG. 24, the six discs stored in a magazine 105, i.e., thetrays 111, 112 disposed therein, are successively numbered (1) through(6) in the rightward direction. A detected signal produced by the threephotocouplers 184a through 184c with respect to the disc (1) isrepresented by "001". Similarly, detected signals produced with respectto the discs (2) through (6) are represented respectively by "010","101", "011", "110", and "100". These detected signals are sent to thecontroller (described later). Since the detectable members 183 move withthe ejecting plates 131 that are reciprocally moved upon insertion andremoval of the magazines 105, the detected signal "001" which indicatesthe stored position of the first disc, for example, in the magazine canbe used as a magazine presence/absence detecting signal for indicatingwhether the magazine 105 is loaded or not. The magazine presence/absencedetecting signal is sent to the controller, which counts the signal anddetermines the position where the movable chassis 16 is stopped, basedon the count. At this time, a detector switch 186 shown in FIG. 16 isused for detecting when the movable chassis 116 has reached a limit orhome position, in engagement with the movable chassis 116.

The photocouplers 184a through 184c and the detectable members 183jointly constitute a playback means position detecting means fordetecting when the movable chassis 116 supporting the playback means hasreached a position aligned with a selected disc 100 and for stopping themovable chassis 116. The guiding and driving means for moving themovable chassis 116 as described above and the playback means positiondetecting means jointly serve as a positioning means for positioning theplayback means in the direction in which the magazines 105 are arrayed.

FIG. 26 illustrates a modified playback means position detecting means.Each of detectable members 183 which has light-shielding portions 183a,183b has slits 183c aligned with intermediate positions between thestored positions of the discs in the magazine 105. As also shown in FIG.27, two photocouplers 187a, 187b are positioned for cooperation withthese slits 183c and mounted on the movable chassis 116 on which otherphotocouplers 184a through 184c are also mounted. When the centers ofthe optical axes of the two photocouplers 187a, 187b are aligned withrespective two slits 183c, the position of one disc is detected. Thus,the stored position of the disc can be detected highly accurately.

Operation of the magazine disc player of the above structure will bedescribed below further with reference to FIGS. 28 through 31(d).

First, the control assembly 103 shown in FIGS. 14 and 28 is operated tospecify a disc 110 to be played back. The controller or CPU shown inFIG. 28 applies a drive voltage to the motor 124 to move the movablechassis 116 with the playback means thereon in a leftward direction(forward) or a rightward direction (rearward) until the ejector member141 reaches a position to engage the tray 111 or 112 carrying the disc110 to be played back.

The movable chassis 116 and hence the playback means are moved andpositioned as follows:

A DCNT signal shown in FIGS. 29 and 30 is a detected signal generated bythe photocouplers 184a through 184c, and a DCHM signal is a detectedsignal generated by the detector switch 186 when the movable chassis 116is in its limit position or home position. As shown in FIG. 29, if thereis a movement command while the photocoupler 184a through 184c aregenerating a DCNT signal, the movable chassis 116 is moved a distancecorresponding to the difference between a present address (present MAG:magazine) and a desired address (search MAG). If there is a movementcommand when no DCNT signal is generated by the photocouplers 184athrough 184c, the movable chassis 116 is moved in the forward direction(leftward: the direction of the arrow X) until a DCHM signal isgenerated by the detector switch 186, and thereafter the movable chassis116 is moved to the position of a desired address (search MAG).

The movable chassis 116 is then moved slightly to the positioncorresponding to a target disc.

When the ejector member 141 reaches a position to engage the traycarrying the disc 110 to be played back, the motor 148 is energized tocause the movable member 143 to turn the ejector member 141. The tray(e.g., tray B 112) carrying the disc 110 to be played back is ejectedfrom the case 109 of the magazine 105, and the disc 110 is moved into aposition concentric with the disc carrying surface of the turntable 152,i.e., into a position directly laterally of the disc carrying surface,as shown in FIG. 31(a).

At the same time that the disc 110 is ejected by the movable member 143,the clamping cam member 158 and the abutment member 168 are rotated bythe movable member 143. As illustrated in FIG. 31(b), the abutmentmember 168 is moved toward the presser 155 of the disc clampingmechanism by the cams 168b to grip the disc 110 between the presser 155and the abutment member 168. Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 31(c) and31(d), the disc 110 is mounted on the turntable 152, while being grippedbetween the presser 155 and the abutment member 168, by the cams 168a ofthe abutment member 168 and the cams 158b of the clamping cam member158. Then, the abutment member 168 is moved away from the disc 110,which is clamped by the presser 155. When the disc 110 ejected from themagazine 105 is delivered horizontally, the disc guide member 181 isslidingly held against the lower end of the disc 110, and the pin 155aof the presser 155 is fitted in the central hole of the disc 110, asshown in FIGS. 31(b) and 31(c), to prevent the disc 110 from beingpositionally displaced. The disc 110 installed on the turntable 152 isthus highly accurately centered with respect to the center of rotationof the turntable 152 by the centering projection 152b of the turntable152 which engages in the recess 155b in the presser 155. Thereafter, thedisc guide member 181 is moved away from the disc 110 as shown in FIG.31(b).

The disc 110 can now be played back. The turntable 152 and the opticalpickup (not shown) are then operated to start playing back the disc 110.

After the disc 110 has been played back, the disc 110 is stored backinto the magazine 105 in a process which is the reversal of the abovedisc loading process. The above operation is repeated as many times asthe number of musics specified to be played back.

A magazine 105 can be ejected out of the subhousing 102 and hence thedisc player by pushing an eject button in the control assembly 103 shownin FIG. 14. When a magazine to be ejected is specified by operating thecontrol assembly 103, the desired magazine is searched for by thephotocoupler 128d, the address plate 129h, and the detector switch 128e,and the solenoid plungers 130 as the ejecting means is moved to aposition to engage the locking finger 127 which locks the magazine. Thesolenoid plunger 130 can be positioned in the same manner as the movablechassis 116 is positioned.

A magazine disc player according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 32, a magazine disc player according to the firstembodiment includes a separable player housing assembly comprising amain housing 201 and a subhousing 202 separably inserted in the mainhousing 201. The main housing 201 has a front panel 201a having ahorizontal opening 201b into which the subhousing 202 can be inserted,and supporting a control assembly 203 above the opening 201b forcontrolling operation of the disc player. Front, leftward, and upwarddirections with respect to the magazine disc player are indicated by thearrows Y, X, Z, respectively. The magazine disc player is suitable foruse as a so-called "karaoke" disc player. The front panel 201a of themain housing 201 also has a coin slot 201c for inserting a coiltherethrough to enable the magazine disc player to be operated, and acoin retrieval case 204 for retrieving inserted coins.

As illustrated in FIGS. 33 through 35, the subhousing 202 has a frontpanel 202a having a plurality (e.g., 10) of openings 202b for insertingdisc magazines 205 therein. The openings 202b extend vertically and aredefined as a horizontal array.

As shown in FIGS. 36(a) and 36(b), each of the disc magazines 205 has acase 209 in the shape of a flat rectangular parallelepiped, and a totalof six trays, i.e., three rectangular trays A 211 and three rectangulartrays B 212, each for carrying a disc 210 in its principal plane. Thediscs 210 carried in the respective trays 211, 212 are stored atpredetermined pitches as a horizontal array in lateral directions (i.e.,in the direction of the arrow X and the direction opposite thereto) withthe recording surfaces of the discs 110 being directed vertically. Thetrays A 211 and the trays B 212 are rotatably mounted on a support shaft209a supported on a corner of the case 209 and extending across thetrays along the array thereof, so that the trays can be stored into andprojected out of the case 209 along their principal planes.

The magazine 205 will be described in greater detail. The case 209 ofthe magazine 205 has seven partitions 209b with the trays A 211 and thetrays B 212 being disposed between these partitions 209b. As shown inFIG. 37, the partitions 209b have respective small circular holes 209cdefined coaxially therein near the support shaft 209a. The trays 211,212 also have openings 211a, 212a, respectively, defined therein atpositions capable of confronting the openings 209c. Five movablespherical elements 213a are disposed in the openings 209c, 211a, 212a,the spherical elements 213a being movable in directions across thepartitions 209b. The spherical elements 113a have a diameter equal tothe pitch of the alternately positioned trays 211, 212. The sphericalelements 213a are normally urged against each other by a pair of leafsprings 213b disposed respectively in opposite walls of the case 209 atone end thereof.

As shown in FIG. 36(b), a presser lever 214 is disposed in an end of thecase 209 and angularly movably mounted on the case 209 by a pin 214a atone end of the presser lever 214. The presser lever 214 has a free endwhich can smoothly engage the free ends of the trays 211, 212. Thepresser lever 214 is normally urged by a spring 214b to turncounterclockwise in FIG. 36(b) to press the trays 211, 212.

As shown in FIG. 36(b), the trays 211, 212 are substantially identicalin shape to each other, except that they have differently shaped andpositioned steps 211b, 212b on side edges which can be engaged by afingertip of the user when pulling the trays out of the case 209.

As shown in FIGS. 33 through 35, a movable chassis 216 is disposed inthe subhousing 202 and guided on a guide shaft 217 for horizontalmovement in the direction in which the magazines 205 are arrayed. Themovable chassis 216 supports thereon a playback means and a disc movingmeans, both of which will be described later on. As also shown in FIG.38, a boss 218 is fixedly mounted in a front lower end portion of themovable chassis 21 and smoothly movably fitted over the guide shaft 217.A rail 219 is disposed in the subhousing 202 parallel to the guide shaft217, and a roller 220 rotatably mounted on a rear lower end portion ofthe movable chassis 216 is rollingly supported on the rail 219. Asillustrated in FIGS. 33, 34, and 38, a wire 222 which is kept taut isdisposed in the subhousing 202 and extends in the direction in which themovable chassis 216 is movable. As shown in FIG. 34, the wire 222 isattached at one end to the subhousing 202 by a hook 222a and tensionedby a coil spring 222b connected to the other end of the wire 222 andattached to the subhousing 202 by another hook 222a. The wire 222 istrained around and bent by a pulley 222c near the coil spring 222b. Thewire 222 is wound around a small pulley 223 rotatably mounted on a lowerend portion of the movable chassis 216. The small pulley 223 can berotated about its own axis by a motor 224 through a gear transmissionmechanism 225 for moving the movable chassis 216 along the guide shaft217 and the rail 219.

The guide shaft 217, the boss 218, the rail 219, the roller 220, thewire 222, the hook 222a, the coil spring

222b, the pulley 222c, the small pulley 223, the motor 224, and the geartransmission mechanism 225 jointly serve as a guiding and driving meansfor carrying the movable chassis 216 movably in the direction of thearray of the magazines 205 and driving the movable chassis 216.

Locking means for locking the magazines in inserted positions in thesubhousing 202, and ejecting means for unlocking the magazines will bedescribed below. These locking means and ejecting means are providedrespectively in association with the ten magazines 205.

As shown in FIGS. 35 and 36(b), the case 209 of each magazine 205 has arecess 205a of a rectangular cross section which is defined in a sidethereof. As shown in FIGS. 35 and 38, a horizontal panel extension 202dextends from a lower portion of the front panel 202a of the subhousing202 into the subhousing 202. A locking finger 227 having a free endengageable in the recess 205a in the case 209 for locking the magazine205 in its inserted position is swingably mounted on a support pin 227asupported on the horizontal panel extension 202d. The locking finger 227is normally urged into the recess 205a by a spring 227b installed as anurging means on the support pin 227a. The locking finger 227 is alsoshown in FIG. 33.

As shown in FIGS. 33 through 35, a movable case 228 is disposed in thesubhousing 202 below the locking finger 227, and guided by a guide shaft229a for movement in the horizontal direction in which the magazines 205are arrayed. A solenoid plunger 230 serving as an ejecting means ismounted on the movable case 228 for causing a rod 230a to engage thefree end of the locking finger 227 and disengaging the locking finger227 from the magazine 205. A boss 228a is fixedly mounted in a front endportion of the movable case 228, and is smoothly movably fitted over theguide shaft 229a. A roller 228b mounted on the rear end of the movablecase 228 is rollingly placed on the bottom of the subhousing 202. Thefront panel 202a of the subhousing 202 has a narrow opening 202c definedin a lower portion thereof and extending in the direction in which themovable chassis 228 is movable. A manual knob 229 coupled to the movablecase 228 projects out of the narrow opening 202c.

The movable case 228 and hence the solenoid plunger 230 can be moved bymanually moving the manual knob 229.

As shown in FIGS. 34 and 35, there are ten block members 229e disposedon the bottom of the subhousing 202 in front of the movable case 228,the block members 229e being arrayed in the direction of movement of themovable case 228 and aligned with the locking fingers 227. In FIG. 35, aspherical element 228d and a coil spring 228e for biasing the sphericalelement 228d are mounted in the front end of the movable case 228. Eachof the block members 229e has a spherical recess in which the sphericalelement 228d can engage. The solenoid plunger 230 can accurately bepositioned in a position to engage each of the locking members 227 bythe spherical element 228d engaging in the corresponding sphericalrecess in the block member 229e.

The manual knob 229, the block members 229e, the spherical element 228d,and the coil spring 228e jointly provide an ejecting means manualpositioning means for manually positioning the solenoid plunger 230 asthe ejecting means manually from outside of the subhousing 202.

As shown in FIGS. 35 and 38, an ejecting plate 231 is disposed in thevicinity of each of the locking fingers 227 for ejecting the magazine205 out of the subhousing 202. The ejecting plate 231 is movableforwardly and rearwardly (i.e., in the direction of the arrow Y and thedirection opposite thereto) on an panel extension 202d (FIG. 35) of thefront panel 202a. The ejecting plate 231 and the locking finger 227 areprovided in ten sets which are associated with the respective tenmagazines 205. The ejecting plate 231 has an upward projection 231a on arear end thereof for abutting against the rear end of the magazine 205.The ejecting plate 231 also has a rack 231b on a righthand side thereof,and a braking gear 232a of a damper 232 is held in mesh with the rack231b. The damper 232 contains a viscous material such as grease andutilizes the viscous resistance of the viscous material for applying abraking force to the ejecting plate 231. The ejecting plate 231 isnormally urged in a direction to eject the magazine 205 by a coil spring231c.

As shown in FIG. 35, an indicator element in the form of alight-emitting diode 235a is mounted on an upper front end of themovable chassis 216 by a column-shaped elongate intermediate member 234,and a lens 235b for converging light emitted from the light-emittingdiode 235a is attached to the intermediate member 234 in coveringrelation to the light-emitting diode 235a. As also illustrated in FIGS.32 through 34, the front panel 202a of the subhousing 202 has a narrowopening 202e defined therein in the direction in which the movablechassis 216 is movable, i.e., in the direction in which the magazines205 are arrayed. The light-emitting diode 235a faces the opening 202e sothat light emitted from the light-emitting diode 235a can be visuallychecked through the opening 202e. The opening 202e is closed by alight-transmissive member 202f to prevent dust or other foreign matterfrom entering the subhousing 202 through the opening 202e. The indicatorelement may be an ordinary electric lamp or a liquid crystal display.

As shown in FIGS. 33, 35, and 38, an ejector member 241 is mounted on alower portion of the front end of the movable chassis 216 for engagingone at a time of the trays 211, 212 in a magazine 205 and ejecting theengaged tray out of the case 209 of the magazine 205. The ejector member241 is in the shape of an L and has two arcuate guide grooves 241a, 241bdefined therein and having different radii of curvature. The ejectormember 241 is guided in its movement by a pair of pins 216a projectingon the movable chassis 216 and slidably engaging the respective guidegrooves 241a, 241b. The ejector member 241 is angularly movable aboutthe center of curvatures of the arcuate guide grooves 241a, 241b forcausing fingers on the opposite ends of the ejector member 241 to ejectand store the tray 211 or 212 out of and into the case 209. The centerof rotation of the ejector member 241 (i.e., the center of curvature ofthe arcuate guide grooves 241a, 241b) is aligned with the central axisabout which the trays 211, 212 are rotatable (i.e., the support shaft209a shown in FIGS. 36(a) and 36(b)). The trays 211, 212 are pushed bythe ejector member 241 at their portions near the support shaft 209a.

As shown in FIGS. 33 and 38, an elongate movable member 243 is disposedin the vicinity of the ejector member 241 and mounted on the movablechassis 216 for reciprocable movement in the back and forth or forwardand rearward directions (i.e., in the direction of the arrow Y and thedirection opposite thereto). The movable member 243 has a vertical slot243a defined in the front end thereof, and a pin 241c mounted on theejector member 241 slidably rides in the vertical slot 243a. The movablemember 243 also has a rack 243b on its lower edge. The movable member243 can reciprocally be moved by a motor 243 through a gear transmissionmechanism 244 including a pinion 244a meshing with the rack 243b, alarge pulley 245 coupled to a first gear of the gear transmissionmechanism 244, and a belt 246 trained around the large pulley 245 and asmall pulley 247 mounted on the output shaft of the motor 248. Themovable member 243 is thus movable back and forth by rotating the motor248 in one direction and the other. As shown in FIGS. 33, 35, and 38, atray guide member 250 is mounted in the movable chassis 216 for guidingone of the trays 211, 212 in sliding contact with the tray which isejected out of or stored into the case 209 of a magazine 205. A pad 250amade of felt or the like is attached to the surface of the tray guidemember 250 for contact with the trays 211, 212.

The ejector member 241, the movable member 243, the gear transmissionmechanism 244, the large pulley 245, the belt 246, the small pulley 247,and the motor 248 jointly serve as a disc moving means for moving a disc210 between the magazine 205 and the playback means.

The playback means supported in the movable chassis 216 for playing backa disc ejected from one of the magazines 205 includes a turntable, anoptical pickup, and a disc clamping mechanism, and is movable in thehorizontal direction in which the magazines 205 are arrayed. As shown inFIG. 33, the movable chassis 216 has four upstanding panels 216c, 216d,216e, 216f juxtaposed in the horizontal direction. To the rightmostupstanding panel 216c, there is attached a spindle motor 253 fordirectly rotating a turntable 252 (see FIG. 34). There are also mountedon the upstanding panel 216c an optical pickup (not shown) for readingrecorded information from the disc 210, and a pickup driving means (notshown) for moving the optical pickup along the recording surface of thedisc 210.

A disc clamping mechanism is mounted on the upstanding panels 216d,216e. As illustrated in FIGS. 33 through 35 and 38 through 39(b), thedisc clamping mechanism has a disc-shaped presser 255 for pressing thedisc 210 ejected from the magazine 205 against the disc carrying surfaceof the turntable 252 (see FIG. 34), clamping plates 256, 257 with thepresser 255 being rotatably supported at its front and rear surfaces bythe clamping plates 256, 257, and an arcuate clamping cam member 258held in sliding contact with the clamping plates 256, 257 for drivingthe clamping plates 256, 257. The clamping plate 256 is swingablyattached to the upstanding panel 216e by a support shaft 256a. Theclamping plate 257 is swingably attached to the upstanding panel 216d bya support shaft 257a. The clamping plates 256, 257 have projections256b, 257b on free ends thereof which are slidably held against theouter periphery of the presser 255. The clamping plates 256, 157 areswingable in respective planes normal to the disc carrying surface ofthe turntable 252.

The clamping cam member 258 has three slots 258a defined therein andeach extending along the arcuate shape of the clamping cam 258. Theclamping cam member 258 is angularly movable about the center ofcurvature thereof while being guided by three support pins 260 mountedon the upstanding panel 216d and slidably engaging in the respectiveslots 258a. The clamping cam member 258 has cams 258b, 258c disposed oneon each side of two of the slots 258a, and projections 256d, 257d on theclamping plates 256, 257 are held in smooth sliding contact with camsurfaces of the cams 258b, 258c. The clamping plates 256, 257 arenormally urged against the clamping cam member 258 by an urging means(not shown) comprising a spring. As shown in FIG. 38, the cam surface ofthe cam 258b of the clamping cam member 258 is composed of threecontinuous surfaces including an intermediate surface, a lower surface,and a higher surface which are arranged in the order named, and the camsurface of the cam 258c is composed of three continuous surfacesincluding a higher surface, a lower surface, and an intermediate surfacewhich are arranged in the order named.

The clamping plates 256, 257 are referred to as a presser supportmechanism. The disc-shaped presser 255 is supported by the pressersupport mechanism for rotation and movement in a direction normal to thedisc carrying surface of the turntable 252 (FIG. 34). The pressersupport mechanism, the presser 255, and the clamping cam member 258jointly constitute a disc clamping mechanism.

A disc gripping and mounting means for gripping and mounting the disc210 on the turntable 252 is installed on the upstanding panels 216c,216f extending parallel to the upstanding panels 216d, 216e on which thedisc clamping mechanism is held. The disc gripping and mounting meanswill hereinafter be described.

As shown in FIGS. 33, 38, 40(a) through 40(b), the disc gripping andmounting means has an arcuate rotary member 266 similar in shape to theclamping cam member 258, and three gripper members 267, 268, 269drivable by the rotary member 266 to grip the disc 210 ejected from themagazine 205. The gripper member 267 is of a plate shape having a discgripping surface shaped to match the curvature of the outer periphery ofthe disc 210. The other two gripper members 268, 269 are in the form ofa column and have smaller-diameter portions on their distal ends forengaging the outer periphery of the disc 210. As shown in FIGS. 40(b)and 40(c), the gripper members 267, 268, 269 (the gripper member 269 isidentical to the gripper member 268) have disc-shaped flexible portions267a, 268a integral therewith which are supported on the upstandingpanel 216f such that the gripper members 267, 268, 269 can be moved indirections parallel to the disc carrying surface of the turntable 252and also in directions normal thereto.

As shown in FIG. 40(a) and 40(b), the rotary member 266 has threearcuate slots 266a defined therein and extending along the arcuate shapeof the rotary member 266. The rotary member 266 is angularly movableabout the center of curvature thereof while being guided by threesupport pins 270 mounted on the upstanding panel 216c and slidinglyengaging in the slots 266a. The rotary member 266 also has cams 266b inthe vicinity of the three slots 266a, respectively, and cam grooves 266cdefined therein and surrounded by the cams 266b, respectively. Thegripper members 267, 268, 269 have pins 267b, 268b, 269b slidablyengaging in the respective cam grooves 266c. The pins 267b, 268b, 269bhave heads held in slidable contact with cam surfaces of the cams 266b.As shown in FIGS. 38, 40(b), and 40(c), each of the cam surfaces of thecams 266b is composed of a higher surface, a lower surface, and anintermediate surface which are arranged in the order named. When therotary member 266 is rotated, the cam surfaces of the cams 266b causethe gripper members 267, 268, 269 to be reciprocally moved in directionsperpendicular to the disc carrying surface of the turntable 152 atprescribed timing. The cam grooves 266c are shaped such that when therotary member 266 is rotated, the gripper members 267, 268, 269 aremoved toward and away from the outer periphery of the disc 210 atprescribed timing.

As shown in FIGS. 33, 38, and 40(a), the movable member 243 for turningthe ejector member 241 to eject the trays 211, 212 from the magazines205 also has a rack 243c on its upper edge which is held in mesh with apinion 275 positioned near the rotary member 266. The pinion 275 is heldin mesh with a gear 276a of a gear cam 276 having a radial extension276b with a slot 276c defined therein and slidably receiving therein oneof the pins 271 on the rotary member 266. When the movable member 243 isreciprocally moved by the motor 248, the rotary member 266 is rotated.

The motor 248, the gear cam 276, and a series of operatively coupledmembers therebetween jointly serve as a drive force imparting means forimparting a drive force to the rotary member 266. The rotary member 266,the drive force imparting means, and small parts associated therewithjointly constitute a gripper member driving means for moving the grippermembers 267, 268, 269 in directions parallel to the disc carryingsurface of the turntable 252 and also in directions perpendicularthereto. The gripper member driving means and the gripper members 267,268, 269 jointly provide the disc gripping and mounting means forgripping a disc 210 ejected from a magazine, delivering the disc 210 inthe direction of the rotational axis of the turntable 252, and mountingthe disc 210 on the turntable 252.

As shown in FIGS. 33, 35, 38, and 39(b), the arcuate clamping cam member258 includes a radially outward extension 258e on its outer peripherywith a horizontal shaft 258f mounted thereon. The arcuate rotary member266 also has a radially outward extension 266e on its outer peripherywhich has a U-shaped recess 266f with the shaft 258f smoothly engagingtherein. Therefore, the rotary member 266 is angularly moved by thegripper member driving means to move the presser 255. Both the presser255 and the gripper members 267, 268, 269 can thus be driven by thesingle drive source, i.e., the motor 248. As a result, the number ofdrive sources required in the disc player is reduced.

As shown in FIGS. 35, 38, and 41, a rearwardly extending plate-likedetectable member 283 is integrally formed with the rear end of each ofthe ejecting plates 231 which eject the respective magazines 205 out ofthe subhousing 202. As illustrated in FIG. 41, each of the detectablemembers 283 has light-shielding portions 283a, 283b on its distal end.As also shown in FIG. 42, three photocouplers 284a, 284b, 284c assensors are positioned in association with the light-shielding portions283a, 283b, and mounted on the movable chassis 216 for movementtherewith. Since the detectable members 283 are fixedly supported on theejecting plates 231, when the magazines 205 are not inserted in thesubhousing 202, the detectable members 283 are not in a positiondetectable by the photocouplers 283a through 284c, but are in anon-detectable position forward of the detectable position.

As shown in FIG. 41, the light-shielding portions 283a, 283b of thedetectable members 283 are arrayed in the direction in which the movablechassis 216 is movable, i.e., in the horizontal direction in which themagazines 205 are arrayed, and are aligned with positions for storingdiscs 210 in the loaded magazines 205. The light-shielding members 283a,283b serve to provide a disc position indication for indicating, inthree bits, the position of each disc in the loaded magazines 205, andthe photocouplers 284a through 284c serve as a disc position indicationdetecting means for detecting the light-shielding members 283a, 283b.The disc position indication and the disc position indication detectingmeans are however not limited to the illustrated arrangements, but maybe of any of various structures. The disc position indication shouldpreferably be of an optical pattern.

As shown in FIG. 41, the six discs stored in a magazine 205, i.e., thetrays 211, 212 disposed therein, are successively numbered (1) through(6) in the rightward direction. A detected signal produced by the threephotocouplers 284a through 284c with respect to the disc (1) isrepresented by "001". Similarly, detected signals produced with respectto the discs (2) through (6) are represented respectively by "010","101", "011", "110", and "100". These detected signals are sent to thecontroller (described later). Since the detectable members 283 move withthe ejecting plates 231 that are reciprocally moved upon insertion andremoval of the magazines 205, the detected signal "001" which indicatesthe stored position of the first disc, for example, in the magazine canbe used as a magazine presence/absence detecting signal for indicatingwhether the magazine 205 is loaded or not.

FIG. 43 illustrates a modified playback means position detecting means.Each of detectable members 283 which has light-shielding portions 283a,283b has slits 283c aligned with intermediate positions between thestored positions of the discs in the magazine 205. As also shown in FIG.44, two photocouplers 287a, 287b are positioned for cooperation withthese slits 283c and mounted on the movable chassis 216 on which otherphotocouplers 284a through 284c are also mounted. When the centers ofthe optical axes of the two photocouplers 287a, 187b are aligned withrespective two slits 283c, the position of one disc is detected. Thus,the stored position of the disc can be detected highly accurately.

As illustrated in FIGS. 35 and 45, ten magazine number indicator plates291 through 300 are disposed below the detectable members 283 fordetecting the numbers of the respective magazines 205. The magazinenumber indicator plates 291 through 300 have light-passing holes 291athrough 300a, respectively, indicative of the magazine numbers in fourbits, the magazine number indicator plates 291 through 300 being securedto the subhousing 202. Four photocouplers 301athrough 301d are mountedon the movable chassis 216 as a magazine number detecting means fordetecting the magazine numbers in coaction with the magazine numberindicator plates.

While the light-passing holes 291athrough 300a are shown as beingcircular in shape in the above embodiment, they may be in the form ofslits.

The photocouplers 284a through 284c, the detectable members 283, thephotocouplers 301athrough 301d, and the magazine number indicator plates291 through 300 jointly serve as a playback means position detectingmeans for detecting when the movable chassis 216 supporting the playbackmeans has reached a position aligned with a selected disc 200 and forstopping the movable chassis 216. The guiding and driving means formoving the movable chassis 216 as described above and the playback meansposition detecting means jointly serve as a positioning means forpositioning the playback means in the direction in which the magazines205 are arrayed.

Operation of the magazine disc player of the above structure will bedescribed below further with reference to FIGS. 46 through 50(b).

First, the control assembly 203 shown in FIGS. 32 and 46 is operated tospecify a disc 210 to be played back. The controller or CPU shown inFIG. 46 applies a drive voltage to the motor 224 to move the movablechassis 216 with the playback means thereon in a leftward direction(forward) or a rightward direction (rearward). As shown in FIG. 47, thenumber of the magazine containing the specified disc is searched for bythe magazine number indicator plates 291 through 300 and thephotocouplers 301athrough 301d shown in FIG. 45, and the movable chassis216 is moved to a position corresponding to the magazine containing thedesired disc. Then, the position of the desired disc is detected by thedetectable members 283 and the photocouplers 284a through 284c shown inFIGS. 41 and 42, after which the position of the movable chassis 216 isadjusted slightly so that the ejector member 241 on the movable chassis216 reaches a position to engage the tray 211 or 212 carrying the disc210 to be played back.

When the ejector member 241 reaches a position to engage the traycarrying the disc 210 to be played back, the motor 248 is energized tocause the movable member 243 to turn the ejector member 241. The tray(e.g., tray B 212) carrying the disc 210 to be played back is ejectedfrom the case 209 of the magazine 205, and the disc 210 is moved into aposition concentric with the disc carrying surface of the turntable 252,i.e., into a position directly laterally of the disc carrying surface,as shown in FIGS. 48(a) and 48(b).

Following the ejection of the disc 210 by the movable member 243, themovable member 243 is further moved to rotate the clamping cam member258 and the rotary member 266. After the tray 212 has been ejected outof the magazine 205, the ejector member 241 and the movable member 243are disengaged by a release mechanism (not shown).

In response to the rotation of the rotary member 266, the cams thereofcause the gripper members 267, 268, 269 to grip the disc and mount thesame on the disc carrying surface of the turntable 252, as shown inFIGS. 49(a), 49(b), 50(a), and 50(b). At the same time, the disc isclamped by the presser 255 in response to operation of the cams of theclamping cam member 258. Thereafter, the gripper members 267, 268, 269are moved away from the disc 210.

The disc 210 can now be played back. The turntable 252 and the opticalpickup (not shown) are then operated to start playing back the disc 210.

After the disc 210 has been played back, the disc 210 is stored backinto the magazine 205 in a process which is the reversal of the abovedisc loading process. The above operation is repeated as many times asthe number of musics specified to be played back.

A magazine 205 can be ejected out of the subhousing 202 and hence thedisc player by pushing an eject button in the control assembly 203 shownin FIG. 32. At this time, the manual knob 229 shown in FIG. 32 isoperated to move the solenoid plunger 230 into a position aligned withthe magazine to be ejected.

With the present invention, as described above in detail, a magazinedisc player according to the present invention includes a storage unitfor storing an array of magazines each for holding a plurality of discs,a playback means for playing back the discs one at a time, a positioningmeans for guiding and positioning the playback means in a direction inwhich the magazines are arrayed, and a disc moving means for moving oneof the discs at a time between the corresponding magazine and theplayback means, the magazines being arrayed in a horizontal direction.

Since the magazines are arrayed and the playback means is movable in thedirection in which the magazines are arrayed, many discs can selectivelybe played back automatically. For replacing one of stored discs withanother disc, it is only necessary to remove the magazine containing thedisc to be replaced and insert a magazine containing the other disc. Themagazine disc player can therefore be operated with ease.

Inasmuch as the magazines are horizontally arrayed, the magazine discplayer is horizontally long, has a low center of gravity, and hence ishighly stable.

In the magazine disc player, the discs are stored with their recordingsurfaces lying vertically.

When removing a magazine from or loading a magazine into the discplayer, the magazine which is of a flat shape is gripped thereacross inits transverse direction. Consequently, the operator can remove and loadthe magazine while taking an easy posture without unduly twisting hisforearm. The magazine disc player can be operated with ease also fromthis viewpoint.

Furthermore, the magazine disc player of the invention also has aturntable having a disc carrying surface, a disc clamping mechanism fordelivering and clamping the disc on the turntable, and a disc pressingmeans for cooperating with the disc clamping mechanism in gripping andmounting the disc which has been ejected from the magazine by the discmoving means. The disc ejected from the magazine is delivered by thedisc clamping mechanism in a direction (horizontal direction) normal tothe disc carrying surface of the turntable, and is then mounted on thedisc carrying surface of the turntable. The disc pressing means preventsthe disc from being positionally displaced radially due to gravity whilethe disc is being delivered, and allows the disc to be reliably mountedand clamped on the turntable.

The magazine disc player further includes a disc guide member forguiding the disc by slidingly contacting the lower end of the disc whichhas been ejected from the magazine so as to be mounted on the turntableby the disc clamping mechanism, and a disc guide member driving meansfor supporting and moving the disc guide member toward and away from thedisc. With this arrangement, while the disc is being delivered by thedisc clamping mechanism and the disc pressing means, the disc is notdisplaced even slightly and can be delivered highly accurately.

The magazine disc player also includes a disc gripping and mountingmeans for gripping the disc which has been ejected from the magazine bythe disc moving means and mounting the disc on the turntable. Formounting the disc ejected from the magazine on the disc carrying surfaceof the turntable, the disc is delivered in the direction (horizontaldirection) normal to the disc carrying surface of the turntable. Becausethe disc being delivered is firmly gripped by the disc gripping andmounting means, the disc is prevented from being positionally displacedradially due to gravity during the disc delivery, and can reliablyinstalled on the turntable.

Although certain preferred embodiments have been shown and described, itshould be understood that many changes and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A magazine disc player comprising a storage unit forstoring an array of magazines each for holding a plurality of discs,playback means for playing back the discs one at a time, positioningmeans for guiding and positioning said playback means in a direction inwhich the magazines are arrayed, and disc moving means for moving one ofthe disc at a time between the corresponding magazine and said playbackmeans, said magazines being arrayed in a horizontal direction, saiddiscs being arranged with recording surfaces thereof lying vertically,said playback means comprising a turntable, a disc clamping mechanism onone side of the turntable, and disc pressing means on an opposite sideof the turntable for cooperating with said disc clamping mechanism ingripping the disc which has been ejected from the magazine and mountingthe disc on said turntable, and the disc pressing means being movable ina direction perpendicular to a disc carrying surface of the turntable.2. A magazine disc player according to claim 1, wherein said discpressing means comprises an abutment member for abutting against thedisc, and supporting and driving means for supporting said abutmentmember and moving the abutment member in the direction substantiallyperpendicular to the disc carrying surface of said turntable.
 3. Amagazine disc player according to claim 2, wherein said disc clampingmechanism comprises a rotatable presser means for pressing the disc, anda presser means supporting mechanism for supporting said presser meansfor rotation and movement in a direction substantially perpendicular tothe disc carrying surface of said turntable, said presser means beingmovable by said supporting and driving means.
 4. A magazine disc playeraccording to claim 3, wherein said presser means has a pin receivable ina central hole defined in the disc, said turntable having a centeringmember receivable in said pin.
 5. A magazine disc player according toclaim 3, wherein said supporting and driving means includes means formoving said abutment member and said rotatable presser means such thatthe disc is clamped between the abutment member and the rotatablepresser means for mounting of the disc on the turntable, said movingmeans then disengaging said abutment member from the disc so that thedisc is clamped to said turntable by said rotatable presser means.
 6. Amagazine disc player according to claim 3 wherein said disc clampingmechanism includes a plurality of clamping plates and said presser meansis rotatably supported by said clamping plates, and rotatable cam meansare provided for operating said clamping plates and said presser means.7. A magazine disc player according to claim 6 wherein said rotatablecam means includes arcuate slots which receive support pins projectingfrom said clamping plates, and further includes arcuate cam surfacesslidably engaged with surfaces on said clamping plates.
 8. A magazinedisc player according to claim 2, which further comprises a rotatabledisc guide pin receivable in a central hole defined in the sic, andguide pin driving means for supporting and moving said sic guide pin ina direction substantially perpendicular to the disc carrying surface ofsaid turntable.
 9. A magazine disc player according to claim 2, whereinsaid supporting and driving means comprises a movable operating membermovable in a predetermined direction and engaging said abutment memberthrough cam means for causing movement of said abutment member, anddrive force imparting means for imparting a drive force to said movableoperating member.
 10. A magazine disc player according to claim 9,wherein said abutment member is of arcuate construction.
 11. A magazinedisc player according to claim 9, wherein said supporting and drivingmeans further comprises resilient means for biasing said abutment memberrelative to said movable member.
 12. A magazine disc player according toclaim 5, wherein said movable member is rotatably mounted for movementrelative to said abutment member.
 13. A magazine disc player accordingto claim 9, wherein the movable member is rotatably mounted for movementrelative to said abutment member, said abutment member is of arcuateconstruction, and said supporting and driving means further comprisesresilient means for biasing said abutment member relative to saidmovable member.
 14. A magazine disc player according to claim 2 whereinsaid driving means for the abutment member of said disc pressing meansalso operates said disc clamping mechanism.
 15. A magazine disc playeraccording to claim 14 wherein separate rotatable cam means are providedfor operating said abutment member and said disc clamping mechanism, andmeans are further provided for interconnecting both of said cam meansfor rotation in unison.
 16. A magazine disc player according to claim 2,wherein said abutment member is of arcuate construction.
 17. A magazinedisc player according to claim 2, wherein said supporting and drivingmeans includes resilient means for biasing said abutment member relativeto said turntable.
 18. A magazine disc player comprising a storage unitfor storing an array of magazines each for holding a plurality of discs,playback means for playing back the discs one at a time, said playbackmeans including a turntable, positioning means for guiding andpositioning said playback means in a direction in which the magazinesare arrayed, disc moving means for moving one of the discs at a timebetween the corresponding magazine and said playback means, saidmagazines being arrayed in a horizontal direction with said discs havingrecording surfaces lying vertically, said disc gripping and mountingmeans for gripping the disc ejected from the magazine, delivering thedisc in an axial direction of said turntable, and mounting the disc onsaid turntable, said disc gripping and mounting means comprising aplurality of gripper members for gripping the periphery of the disc in aradially inward direction, and gripper member driving means forsupporting and moving said gripper members in directions substantiallyparallel and perpendicular to a disc carrying surface of said turntable,to grip the peripheral edge of the disc for positioning of the discaxially on and removal of the disc axially from said turntable.
 19. Amagazine disc player according to claim 18 wherein said gripper drivingmeans comprises a rotary cam member supported by projecting guide pinsreceived in arcuate guide slots in the rotary cam member, said rotarycam member also including first and second cam means each havingmultilevel surfaces for moving the gripper means in the parallel andperpendicular directions, respectively.
 20. A magazine disc playeraccording to claim 19 wherein at least one of the gripper membersincludes a groove portion at a distal end for receiving the outerperiphery of the disc.
 21. A magazine disc player according to claim 20wherein said gripper members include flexible portions by which saidgripper members are mounted on an adjacent support member to permittheir movement in the parallel and perpendicular directions.
 22. Amagazine disc player comprising a storage unit for storing an array ofmagazines each for holding a plurality of disc-supporting flat trays forholding a plurality of discs, playback means for playing back the discsone at a time, positioning means for guiding and positioning saidplayback means in a direction in which the magazines are arrayed, traymoving means for moving one of the trays and one of the discs thereinbetween the corresponding magazine and said playback means, saidplayback means comprising a turntable, a disc clamping mechanism on oneside of the turntable, and disc pressing means on an opposite side ofthe turntable for cooperating with said disc clamping mechanism ingripping said one disc which has been moved to said playback means andfor mounting said one disc on said turntable, the disc pressing meansbeing movable in a direction perpendicular to a disc carrying surface ofthe turntable, and a single reversible drive means for operating saidtray moving means, disc clamping means and disc pressing means.
 23. Amagazine disc player according to claim 22 wherein said tray movingmeans is angularly movable, and said disc clamping means and discpressing means each include angularly movable cam means, and whereinseparate means are provided for connecting said single reversible drivemeans to each of said tray moving means, disc clamping means and discpressing means.
 24. A magazine disc player according to claim 23 whereinsaid connecting means includes means for interconnecting said discclamping means and said disc pressing means, and a reciprocable memberis connected at one end to said tray moving means, said reciprocablemember also having a gear rack for driving at least one of said discclamping means and said disc pressing means.
 25. A magazine disc playercomprising a storage unit for storing an array of magazines each forholding a plurality of discs, playback means for playing back the discsone at a time, positioning means for guiding and positioning saidplayback means in a direction in which the magazines are arrayed, discmoving means for moving one of the discs at a time between thecorresponding magazine and said playback means, said magazines beingarrayed in a horizontal direction, and said discs being arranged withrecording surfaces thereof lying vertically, a disc guide membervertically movable into a position in which it slidingly contacts thelower end of the disc which has been ejected from the magazine, to guidethe disc into a position in which it can be mounted on the turntable,the disc guide member also being movable away from the lower end of thedisc after the disc has been mounted on the turntable, and disc guidemember driving means for supporting and moving said disc guide membervertically into and out of engagement with the lower end of the disc.